CHESAPEAKE AND LEOPARD, Affair of the, 22 June 1807. The Chesapeake was a 40 gun frigate destined to relieve the Constitut tion in the Mediterranean; Capt. James Barron was to go out in her as commander of the Medi terranean squadron. She had been refitted at the Washington navy-yard, and made final prep arations at Norfolk, reporting ready for service on 19 June. On the 22d she got under way, but expecting no attack from powers at peace with this country, was in no shape for im mediate action, and being four months behind time, could not wait. The gun deck was ob structed with various lumber, sick seamen were lying on the upper deck, the cables were not stowed away, the powder-horns were not filled and the crew was raw and not exercised at the guns. At this time, in the heart of the Napoleonic wars, the high wages and relatively safe employ of the American merchant and even naval service, with the nights of American citizenship immediately obtained, raised the normal rate of desertion from the British navy so much that its officers were much embarrassed and greatly incensed; and Great Britain claimed, as for many years afterward, the right of searching neutrals for deserters and contra band. At the same time, her press-gangs crimped for service any strays who could be caught, of any nationality, and rarely gave any redress. Early in 1807 a British fleet lay off Norfolk watching to intercept some French frigates in the Chesapeake; and a boat's crew deserted bodily and escaped to Norfolk The captain was told that they had enlisted on the was true of only one, and he under an assumed name; and meet. ing the latter and another deserter in the streets of Norfolk, was defied. Another vessel, the Melampus, reported three deserters gone to the Chesapeake, but it was proved that they were native Americans illegally pressed. Admiral Berkeley, at Halifax, on complaint of his offi cers, ordered any of his vessels to overhaul and search the Chesapeake on meeting her out side the United States jurisdiction. The order was carried out by the 52-gun flagship, Leopards Captain Humphreys, after consulting with the local commandant at Lynnhaven, followed ?the Chesapeake out beyond Cape Henry, hailed her, and sent a boat with a copy of Berkeley's order. Barron, who believed that he had no
deserters aboard except the Melaniputc which were not really such, honestly denied having any, but refused the right to search; the mes senger lieutenant at once left and within five minutes the Leopard came closer, and Humph reys announced that he should carry out his orders, Barron at once called his men to quar ters, and did everything that skill, coolness and courage could do to prepare for action, but the Leopard almost at once poured one whole broadside into the Chesapeake, and then two more in rapid succession, without the pos sibility of her opponent replying. Three of the latter's men were killed, Barron and 17 others wounded, and it was certain that the vessel would be sunk in a short time if the fire kept up, and Barron, to stop a useless massacre, struck his flag. The one English deserter was hunted out and hanged, the three Americans taken and imprisoned. The mass of the country was on fire with indignation; the extreme Fed eralists at first justified the English course, but were compelled by public feeling to exhibit some patriotism. Even Jefferson, whose unwise course had brought on the catastrophe, inter dicted British cruisers from American ports; and demanded disavowal and reparation from Great Britain, which were not given ; but he did nothing to prevent the recurrence of such out rages. The unfortunate Barron, who had be haved like a brave man and good officer, and whose instructions had bound him to do noth ing to bring on collisions, was made the scape goat of the popular fury. His own captain screened himself by accusing him, and a court martial on board his own vessel from 4-8 Jan. 1808, Capt. John Rodgers after ac quitting him of all blame in every respect but one, found him guilty in not preparing for action as soon as he read Admiral Berkeley's order, and sentenced him to five years' suspen sion without pay or emoluments. The gross injustice of this is now admitted. One of the judges was Stephen Decatur (q.v.), who never ceased reflecting on Barron till the latter chal lenged and killed him.